A week after the hoedown, Pilar sat outside Desi's trailer on a hot summer evening. She'd worked until five and the two fans Desi had set up to cool any guests, felt delicious. The lowering sun cast streaks of red and yellow over the mountains and Pilar sighed at the beauty stretched before her.
For the thousandth time, her mind wandered back to Max and his kisses. Her traitorous body got all kinds of hot just thinking about him. He was one sexy package and if she was anyone but Pilar Armstrong, mother of William Armstrong, she would have cast caution to the wind and had an affair with him. Women did it all the time. Why not spice up her life with a few nights of passion with a rich, handsome, unavailable man.
Disgusted with herself for her prudish ways, so unlike the women of today, she turned her attention to Willie and Caleb unwrapping the baseball packs she'd picked up at Dotty's Dime Store. The boys laughed and joked and exclaimed over the cards. It warmed Pilar's heart to see her son so happy and well adjusted.
Down the road she could see Max walking toward them and her heart rate accelerated.
"Howdy, Max," called Desi. "Do you have time to join us this fine evening?"
Max stepped toward them. "I do. I just got Gator lined out for tomorrow and I was wondering how I'd spend the rest of my evening." His eyes sought out Pilar's. The intensity of his gaze made her glance quickly away.
Willie and Caleb invited Max to join them and go through the baseball cards, but he declined. "Boys, I think I'll just sit and converse with the adults for awhile."
"Sure thing, Mr. Rutherford," Willie said easily.
Caleb nodded.
Max chose a lounge chair across from Pilar and stretched his long frame into it. He said, "Ahhhh. Just what I needed."
Desi laughed, "Been one of those days, has it?"
Max nodded. "Yes. One of those days. The plumbing busted in the laundry room and Hank and I spent an hour trying to repair it before Gator showed up. He made short work of the problem." Max stared at Pilar as he spoke.
Remembering their conversation about Hank and Gator, and the kisses that followed, Pilar blushed and hoped Max couldn't see it.
Another figure approached. "Looks like a party. Can I join you?"
Desi answered, "You sure can, Silas. Pull up that chair over yonder."
Caleb said, "Hi, Dad."
Pilar and Willie greeted the cowboy and Desi slowly stood, his bones creaking. He said, "I'm going to warm my coffee and bring the pot out. Max, Silas, can I bring you cups?"
Max jumped up. "I'll get it Desi. You sit back down."
The old man thanked Max and reseated himself. Silas said he'd like some coffee and Max entered the trailer. A few minutes later he returned carrying the pot and two cups. After pouring refills for Desi and Pilar he poured for himself and Silas.
Pilar joked, "Max, you're pretty good at that, maybe you should apply for a job at the diner."
Max laughed, "I've got my hands full managing this park." He winked at Pilar and she thought about his confidence of being a corporate man overseeing billion dollar companies. She didn't know if he was being serious or facetious about managing the park.
The sun finally disappeared behind the mountains in a blaze of rosy glory and the friendly group enjoyed the cooler evening. Desi switched off the fans. Occasional night sounds of the cries of bobcats broke the silence, and sometimes a gust of wind flung their voices into the air. Stars twinkled and the moon cast light beams, as it had on the night Max kissed Pilar.
Max tossed a question out. "How did Oasis get its name?"
Desi said, "Any of you want to answer that?"
Silas said, "I haven't the faintest idea."
Pilar said, "You go ahead and tell the story, Desi."
Desi shifted in his chair and stretched his legs out. "Well, the way I heard it, back in the early part of the 1900s, a man by the name of Manfred Schneider, who had worked the goldmines in Goldfield, Arizona—once a thriving town in the late 1800s and early 1900s—got the idea that he could get rich by mining for gold here. He wanted to recreate another Goldfield, and in order to entice people, he advertised the area as an 'Oasis in the desert' because of the small spring north of town. Of course when folks got here, it wasn't anything like they thought it would be. As for the mine, it played out after a couple of years and Mr. Schneider and the miners moved on. A few people stayed, however, and decided the name Oasis was preferable to Schneider. I guess they fell in love with the area just like we have. Some of the descendents of those first settlers are still here. Dottie, who owns the dime store, is one of them."
Pilar said, "Kade's grandmother is too."
"Where was the mine located?" asked Max.
"North of town not far from the spring. It was boarded up long ago," replied Desi.
Willie said, "I heard it's haunted!"
Caleb said excitedly, "Really?"
Desi laughed. "Boys, I think that rumor got started to keep kids away from a dangerous place."
Willie and Caleb slumped and looked disappointed.
The group lapsed into silence.
Silas broke the mood of contemplation when he said, "Pilar, I keep forgetting to let you know I have free passes for the mule train to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. It's–"
Willie broke in, "Oh, wow! Mom, can we go again?"
Pilar decided not to mention Willie's discourtesy in interrupting Silas. He was just excited and normally would not have done so.
Caleb said, "We had a great time last year!"
Pilar grinned, "You're very generous, Silas, but I'd feel guilty not paying my own way two years in a row."
Silas shook his head. "Nonsense. Like I said last year, I've worked with these folks so long it’s a perk of my job."
Willie anxiously watched his mom.
She smiled. "What dates do you have available?"
Willie and Caleb shouted and gave each other high fives.
Silas said, "Do you think the last weekend of this month would work for you?"
Pilar tapped her chin while she thought about it. "Yes. It gives me plenty of time to find a replacement at the diner. Is it the same as last year—a day down, a day at the bottom, and a day back up?"
"It is." He turned to Max. "How about you? Have you ever been to the Grand Canyon?"
"Once, as a kid with my dad."
"But have you seen it from the ground floor?"
"No. I haven't."
"Well, Pilar and Willie will have a cabin, but there's room in the dorm if you want to join us."
Pilar held her breath waiting for Max's response.
* * *
Memories squeezed Max's heart. His dad had once promised him that when he was older they would travel to the bottom of the Grand Canyon together. Max was about to decline, but suddenly the child in him said, "I'd like to join you."